Business Spotlight on The Chai Box

The Chai Box: A Sip of Tradition and Innovation

When I first met Monica Sunny, the founder of The Chai Box, I was instantly greeted with a cup of chai and an assortment of biscuits, including rusk (Indian Biscotti)—cookies traditionally dipped in tea. Growing up in India, Monica told me that families would traditionally have a box of spices that would be used for making various teas and curries. During playdates for her son, Monica would make her guests Chai using one of her traditional boxes. Soon, her “Chai Boxes” became a hit with parents so much that they all wanted one of their own. In 2014, Monica launched her first product, The Chai Box, which would later become the company’s namesake. Through her company and its products, Monica seeks to reconnect generations of Indian-Americans with their roots and to maintain her family's cultural heritage. It's also a way for people of all backgrounds to experience the rich flavors and aromas of Indian culture. Inside each Chai Box, you will find a trio of loose-leaf black tea (called True Blend), along with spices sourced from the spice capital of the world, Kerala, India, such as cardamom, fennel seeds, cinnamon bark, cloves, candied ginger, and rose petals, and even a recipe card.

Chai is tea!

In case you do not know, the word "chai" translates to "tea" in Hindi and is a common beverage in Indian households, typically infused with a blend of aromatic spices and herbs such as cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and black pepper. Originating in India, chai carries cultural significance and has gained international popularity in recent years. Versions ranging from traditional recipes to "chai lattes" featuring steamed milk can now be found globally. Beyond its distinct flavor, chai's spices also offer potential health benefits like anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The black tea in Chai has about one-third the caffeine as coffee and has a slow-release which leaves you less jittery throughout the day.

Unique Blends for Unique Stories

Initially, Monica introduced four distinctive tea blends to the market: "All Chai’d Up," a traditional masala chai; "Sweet Monsoon," inspired by Kerala’s monsoons and containing mango and coconut; "True Blend," featuring a mix of Darjeeling, Assam, and Orange Pekoe teas; and "Punjaban Party," a blend infused with ginger and fennel to aid digestion. These blends are a reflection of both her own and her mother’s recipes.

Recognition and Accomplishments

Monica’s hard work caught the attention of an intern at Oprah Daily while doing one of her morning tea meditations on Instagram, resulting in The Chai Box being featured in "Oprah’s Favorite Things 2021." This propelled the company into national prominence, earning subsequent mentions in Forbes, Bon Appetit, Women’s Health, Bazaar, and Food Network’s list of "50 women-founded food businesses we love to shop from." Her individual accomplishments extend to being selected to participate in women entrepreneur leadership programs by the Tory Burch Foundation and Stacy’s Pita Chips. The Chai Box serves as a prime example of how local entrepreneurship can thrive on a national stage, particularly when the product is high-quality and comes with authentic meaning.

To Monica, “chai is more than just a drink,” it’s about learning to enjoy the process of making a traditional cup of chai and creating memories with loved ones. While there are certainly easier methods for making tea, her blends offer an immersive, familial experience rooted in tradition. You can check out all of Monica’s products here!